Roll film camera



Aug, 15, 1939 w.- zAPP ROLL FILM CAMERA Filed Dec. 6, 1937 2Sheets-Sheet l Aug. 15, 1939 y w. 2m 2,169,548

ROLL FILM CAMERA Filed Dec. 6, 1937 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented Aeg. 15,193e 2,169,548

UNITED STATES. PATENT OFFICE zusam aoLL FILM CAMERA Y Walter Zapp, Riga,Latvia, assigner to Valsts Elektrotechnika Fabrika, Riga, Latvia, acompany of Latvia e Application Decanter s, 1937, serial No. 178,389 InFinland December 22 1936 s claims. (ol. 95-31) l 'I'he present inventionrelates to photographic ures numeral 2 indicates a button by which theapparatus. shutter mechanism is released. Numeral 3 desig- One object ofthe invention is to create a photonates a graduation for setting thelens to` difgraphic apparatus of such small dimensions that ferentdistances, while numeral 4 indicates a it may be carried in the vestpocket. graduation for setting the time of exposure (the 5 'l Anotherobject of the invention is to provide a speed of the shutter movement).Reference photographic apparatus which may be manipunumeral 5 designatesa window for viewing a lated very quickly and by means of which agraduated disc which indicates the number ofL plurality of successiveexposures may be made pictures exposed. Numeral Sindicatesa lens andrapidly. 'l refers to a View iinder. The lower side and the 10 y Anotherobject of the invention is to construct rear side of the apparatus inextended position the apparatus in such manner that protruding are shownin Fig. 3. In this gure the ocular portions are avoided as much aspossible. More 'of the view-finder is indicated by numeral 8.particularly the usual rotatable handle for feed- Moreover, in thisiigure the lower side of the ining the film is eliminated. ner body lbisuncovered, as the cover lc is drawn 15 Another object of the inventionis to construct' out, so that the chambers 40 for the film rollers theapparatus in such manner that the ,lens and as well as a coupling member2| for'rotating one the view-under are protected when the apparatus ofsaid rollers are visible. iS Het used. The shutter mechanism is operatedwhen the One embodiment `"of the invention yis shownr in two bodies ofthe casing are drawn apart and 20 the annexeddrawings. l V pushedtogether. Y The shutter consists of a thin Fig. 1 is a perspective viewshowing the photo- I sheeet metal' strip 9 which is connected with thegraphic apparatus according to the present iouter body la by means of aspring I2; The shutvention, in normal position. ter 9 is slideablymounted in a slot in the inner Fig. 2 is a perspective view showing thesame body Ib and has an opening I0 movable past the 25 apparatus in anextended position, ready ior use. lens 6. The shutter S has an extensionformed Fig. 3 is a perspective view showing the same with a hook 9a. Bymeans oi this hook the apparatus from the lower side, the lower wallbeshutter 9 cooperates with a catch lever i4 mountin'g pulled out stillfurther to uncover the chamed on av pin ila in rthe inner body Ib andcarrybers for the nlm. s ing the button 2. A tension spring Mb is con-30A Fig. 4 isw a longitudinal section through the nected to the lever I4in such manner that the same apparatus on a larger scale, taken alongthe left end of the lever is yieldingly pressed upwards line IV-IV inFig. 9. 'f (Fig. 6). The shutter 9 also cooperates with a Fig. 5 is aplan view showing the upper side of `retarding mechanism located in theinner body the apparatus, the upper wall being broken away. Ib andcomprising a retarding lever 35 mounted 35 Fig. 6 is a .correspondingfront view partly in upon apin 38. A torsional spring 39asurroundsection. ing the pin 39, is connected to the lever 35 in Fig. 7is the same front view but shows the elesuch manner that it tends toturn the lever 35 in ments in another position. a counter-clockwisedirection (Fig. 5). This 40 Fig. 8 is a cross section taken on the linelever 35 carries a toothed segment 35a engaging 40 VIII-VIII in Fig. 5.a gear wheel 36 secured on a toothed wheel 3l co- .Fig. 9 is a.longitudinal sectionv taken on the operating with a double pawl 38. `Thewheel 3B line IX-IX in Fig. 2. and the pawl 38 form a mechanism of thewell- Figs. 5 to '7 are on a larger scale than Fig. 4, known clockescapement type. The lever 35 carand Fig. 8 is on a still larger scale.Fig. 9 is in ries a pin 35h projecting through the upper wall 45 thesame scale as Fig. 4. Y y of the body Ib and arranged in such mannerReferring now to the drawings, the casing of that it may be engaged byacam 4a secured to the apparatus is formed by two bodies indicated themember carrying the graduation 4 for the by reference characters la andIb. The twotime. Between the shutter 9 and the lens vli av bodies I aand Ib are of an oblong shape and the plate Il is located'which issecured to the outer 50 latter is movable in the former in thelongitdibody la and serves to prevent the lens from being nal direction.I'he relative motion of the bodies uncovered when the two bodies of thecasing of in the direction `from each other is limited by a theapparatus are moved together to its shut suitable stop 60 (Fig. 4)-,'I'he exterior of the apposition. paratus is shown in Figs. 1 and 2. Inthese tlg- The device now described acts as follows: 55

' Assuming that the apparatus is shut, then the hook 9a of the shutter 9is engaged by the catch lever I4. When the apparatus is extended, thatis when the inner body Ib is moved outwards in the outerbody la to theposition shown in Fig. 2, the shutter 9 is also moved in the samedirection as the inner body Ib, tensioning the spring I2. When theapparatus has attained its most extended position the plate II presentsan opening IIa in front of the lens 6. However, the opening I in theshutter 9 does not lie in front of the lens but beside the same, asshown in Fig. 7. Thus, in this position the lens 6 is covered.V

If, now, the button 2 is depressed the shutter 9 is released and movesover the lens 6, which will be exposed to the light when the opening Iof the shutter passes the opening I Ia. Thenthe shutter 9 has attainedits position of rest, the lens 6 again is covered, as shown in Fig. 6.Then the appara tus may be shut. During this motion the opening I0 inthe shutter 9 would uncover the lens if the plate II, which covers thelens during the move-` ment of the opening Ill past the lens 6, were notprovided.

In Fig. the retarding mechanism for the shutter is shown in the positioncorresponding to the shortest time of exposure. When the picture is tobe exposed for a longer time the cam la is turned4 in a clockwisedirection, and for the following description it is to be assumed thatthe cam la is directed more downwardly than in Fig. 5. This figureillustrates the lever 35 andthe shutter 9 in their positions after thereleasing of the latter. In these positions the hook 9a prevents thelever 35 from being swung into engagement with the cam lla by thetorsional spring 39a. When the apparatus is pushed together the left endof the lever 35 is disengaged from the hook 9a and is swungcounter-clockwise by the spring 39a, and simultaneously the wheels 36,3l are rotated clockwise by the sector 35a of the'lever 35 until therotation is stopped by the engagement of the pin 35h with the cam Ila.This is the initial position of the retarding mechanism and this initialposition is determined by the position to which the cam lia was set.When the apparatus now is extended nothing occurs but the tension-v ingof the shutter 9 which inthe normal position of the apparatus had becomeengaged'by the catch lever Ill. Upon disengagement of the lever I9 bydepression of the button 2 the shutter 9 moves freely to the left untilit engages the left end of the lever 35 which then is swung in aclockwise direction from the engagement with the cam 'Sa until the lever35 has attained the position shown in Fig. 5. During this turning motionthe lever rotates the Wheels 36, 37 in a counter-clockwise direction,and the speed of rotation of the wheels is controlled by the double pawl38 in well-known manner, and the lens is uncovered by opening I0.- Thenthe shutting motion of the shutter is completed and the lens iscovered.- Now, the apparatus may be pushed together so that the lever 35is swunginto engagement with the cam 4a. It is evident that the timeduring' which the lens is uncovered depends on the position from whichthe lever 35 begins its rotation in a clockwise direction.

It is evident that the reciprocating motion operates the shuttermechanism, that is tensions the shutter spring. Furthermore, the feedingof the film is also effected by this reciprocating motion. For thispurpose to the right end of the outer body Ia (Fig. 9) a member I9 isattached which in the embodiment shown is formed as a rack. In the innerbody Ibthe lm rollers 6I and 62 are located in the chambers 40 (Figs. 3and 9). 'Ihe lm feeding roller 6I is connected to a plate 20 rotatablymounted in the inner body Ib by means of a coupling 'member 2I and aunidirectional feeding-and-stop pawl mecha-- nism 23, 26. This plate 20has a toothed portion 20a and an arm 3I for cooperation with the rackI9. Also a returning spring 30 for said plate 26 is provided. Thestarting position of the plate 2,9 is defined by a lever 29 engaging aprojection 32 on the plate 29 and operated in such manner that at thefeeding of the film due compensation for the increase ofthe diameter ofthe lm roll Will be attained. For this purpose a helical cam 59 attachedto the disc 5a counting the number of pictures exposedrcooperates'withsaid lever 29, and a spring plate 33 is secured to said member I9 whichplate 33 serves to turn the disc 5a by means of a step-by-step motion.When the apparatus is shut the member I9 feeds the film and alsooperates the disc 5a thus causing a compensation for the increase indiameter of the film roll. When the apparatus is extended the lrnfeeding mechanism is brought into position for the next feeding of thevlm. This mechanism for feeding thev lm and for compensating for theincrease of 'diameter or the'lm roll is further described and/claimed inmy co-pending patent application entitled, Improvements in film` feedingmechanism for photographic apparatus and led on the same date as mypresent application. Some features shown and claimed in that applicationare'also shown and described in the present application.

When the apparatus is shut, that is, pushed together, the lens 6 as wellas the view-finder I together with the ocular 8 are protected byportions of the outer body Ia (Fig. 4). Only in extended position arethe lens and the view-finder uncovered, the lens by an opening 'Ill insaid portion of the body Ia and the view-finder on'account of the factthat it then lies outside the outer body Ia (see also Fig. 2). Thus, thelens and the view-lnder are uncovered by the extending motion of theapparatus.

The film is pressed against the picture window only when the apparatusis in extended position. For this purpose a member I6 (Fig. 4) isarranged behind the lens 6. This member I6formed as a plate is mountedin an opening in' the inner body Ib. VThis opening extends in thedirection of the axisof the lens. Thus, the' number I6 is movable towardandawayvfrom the lm 26. The outer body Ia has an inwardly extendingprojection I8 in such position that it lies opposite to the member I6when the apparatus is extended. By means of a spring I`I said projectionI8 then presses the plate I6 against the film, which is thus pressedagainst the picture window.

What I claim is:

1. A photographic apparatus for use of roll films comprising, incombination, a casing composed of two bodies telescopically reciprocablerectilinearly with respect to each other to extend and shut the casing;a lens having its axis perpendicular to the direction of reciprocationof `said bodies, said lens being mounted in one of said bodies; a rollfilm feeding mechanism arranged in the same body as the lens; a shuttermounted in the body carrying the lens and movable before the lens; aspring permanently con# necting the shutter with the body not carryingthe lens; a spring-pressed catch mechanism 1ocated in the same body asthe lens in position to engage the shutter when'the two bodies are movedinto their shut position and to tension the shutter mechanism as the twobodies are moved apart; and a member secured to the body on which theshutter is permanently connected in position for engaging and operatingsaid film feeding mechanism as the two bodies are moved together intoshut position.

2. A. photographic apparatus for use of roll films comprising, incombination, a casing composed of two bodies telescopically reciprocablerectilinearly with vrespect to each other to extend andshut the casing;a lens having its axis perpendicular to theA direction of reciprocationof said bodies, said lens being mounted in vone of said bodies; a rollfilm feeding mechanism mounted in the same body as the lens; a shuttermounted in the-body carrying the lens and movable before the lens; aspring permanently connecting the shutter with the body not carrying thelens; acatch mechanism located in the same body as the lens in positionto engage the shutter when the two bodies are moved into their shutposition and to tensio'n the shutter mechanism as the two bodies aremoved apart; a member secured to the same body to which the shutter ispermanently connected in position for engaging` and operating said filmfeeding mechanism as the two bodies are moved into shut position; and awhen the two bodies are in shut' position.

3. A- photographic "apparatus for use of roll films comprising, incombination, a casing composed of two bodies reciprocable rectilinearlywith respect to each other to extend and shut the casing; a'lens havingits axis perpendicular to the direction of reciprocation of said bodies;said lens being mounted in one of said bodies; a roll film feedingmechanism mounted in the same gbody as the lens; a shutter mounted inthe body carrying the lens and movable before the lens; a springpermanently connecting saidshutter with the body not carrying the lens;a springpressed catch mechanism mounted-,in thesame body as the lens inposition t0 engage the shutter when the two bodies are moved into theirshut position and to tension the shutter mechanism as the two bodies aremoved apart; a member secured to the same body as themshutterin positionto engage and operate saiffilm feeding mechanism as thetwo bodies aremoved in shut position; a view-finder in the body carrying thelens; andaplate mounted on the body to 'which r| the shutter is permanentlysecured in position to screen the view-finder when the two bodies are inshut position.

4. A photographic apparatus for use of roll -films comprising, incombination, a casing composed of two bodies reciprocable rectilinearlywith respect to each other'to extend and shut the casing; a lens havingits axis perpendicular to the direction of reciprocation of said bodies,said lensbeing mounted in one of said bodies; a roll film feedingmechanism mounted in the same body as the lens; a shutterv mounted inthe body carrying the lens and movable before the lens;

a spring permanently connecting said shutter with the body, in which thelens is not mounted;

a spring-pressed catch mechanism mounted in the same body as the lens inposition to engage the shutter when the -two bodies are in shut positionand to tension the shutter mechanism as the two bodiesfare moved apart;a member secured to the body with which the shutter is permanentlyconnected in position to engage and operate saidiilm feeding mechanismas the two bodies are moved together into shut position; the bodycarrying .the lens having Yan opening located behind the lens andextending in the direction of window only when the bodies are inextended plate mounted on the body to which the shutter isv vpermanentlyconnected and screening the lens I posed of two" bodies reciprocablerectilinearlyfwith respect to each other to extend and shut the casing;a lens vhaving its axis perpendicular to the directions( reciprocationof said bodies and mounted in one of said bodies; a roll film feedingmechanism mountedin the same body as the lens; a shutter mounted in thebody carrying the lens and movable before the lens; a spring permanentlyconnecting said shutter with the body not carrying the lens; aspring-pressed catch mechanism mounted in the same body as the lens inposition to engage the shutter when the two bodies are in their shutposition and to tension the shutter mechanism as the two bodies aremoved to extended position; a member secured to the body to which theshutter is permanently connected to operate said film 'feeding mecha-dnism as the two bodies are moved together into shut position; and aplate between the lens and the shutter, said plate being secured to thebody to which the shutter is permanently connected in position to coverthe lens in all relative positions of the two bodies except the mostextended position. ,Y

" WALTER. ZAPP.

